GRAMMY-winning Cedric Gervais and Rock and Roll & Songwriters Hall of Famer Nile Rodgers unite to breathe new life into the timeless anthem We Are Family by Sister Sledge.
The duo’s reimagined version seamlessly blends Cedric’s signature big-room house energy and lush, melodic layers with Nile’s iconic funk-driven grooves, delivering a dance floor-oriented masterpiece that’s both nostalgic and respectful to the original version, as well as cutting-edge with a notable modern twist.
Pulsing basslines and shimmering synths elevate the timeless chorus, while Rodgers’ unmistakable instrumentals provide a sleek, rhythmic heartbeat. Out now on Armada Music, it’s not only a tribute to the classic but a dance floor anthem crafted for today’s global audience. Cedric says;
“4 years ago myself, Franklin and Nile Rodgers recreated the single Everybody Dance, we had so much fun with the record and when we realised we had an opportunity to recreate We Are Family with Nile and collaborate together, again we jumped at the chance. We got together at Night Bird studio in Los Angeles and recreated the record there and then; Nile’s love for music is infectious, and the stories he shared during the session were inspiring. This song has such a positive, unifying message.”
We Are Family captures the essence of both artists’ worlds, creating an irresistible fusion of soulful funk and house music which brings hope and promotes a positive message. Nile says;
“It feels like with each passing year, We Are Family and its message becomes more powerful. Black, white, gay, straight, rich, poor, Christian, Muslim, we are all family. To have the opportunity to reimagine it at the request of my friend Cedric Gervais at a point in time when the world needs hope is wonderful, and its purpose is to bring some joy.”
We caught up with Cedric Gervais this week and to mark the release of We Are Family, we asked him to compile and talk us through a playlist of other dance music classic that spread positivity around the globe.
Daft Punk – Rolling and Scratching
When I was 16 years old, I saw Daft Punk play in my home city, Marseille. They played without their masks as they hadn’t been created yet. This show changed my life.
Laurent Garnier – Crispy Bacon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fki4TySQqc0
Laurent is one of my idols and I occasionally still play this track in my sets.
Funky Green Dogs – Fired Up (Murk’s Original Groove): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrE2Iq39qJ0
One of my favorite bands back in the day and I got the honour of working with them in my career
Stardust – Music Sound Better With You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQlAEiCb8m0
This was one of the hardest vinyl to find when the song came out
Mousse T – Horny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH8WvayAo1M
This was a huge track when i was young and clubbing in the south of France, brings back great memories
Romanthony – Ministry of Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZPjp4jRSHw
Such a classic
Boris Dlugosch – Keep Pushin’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIzu5blVOhE
The baseline on the record is everything
Duke – So in Love with You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP_bKbFjHc4
This is timeless, it’ll never get old
Cedric Gervais – Burning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ozz3DHaT_E
This is a special record for me as its the first record i ever produced and released
DJ Rolando – King of the Jaguar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcC3vVh3cOE
When I first went to Ibiza this was the biggest record on the island, it was played in every club
“4 years ago myself, Franklin and Nile Rogers recreated the single ‘Everybody Dance,’ we had so much fun with the record and when we realized we had an opportunity to recreate ‘We Are Family’ with Nile and collaborate together, again we jumped at the chance. We got together at Night Bird studio in Los Angeles and recreated the record there and then; Nile’s love for music is infectious, and the stories he shared during the session were inspiring. This song has such a positive, unifying message and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.” – Cedric Gervais
“It feels like with each passing year, ‘We Are Family’ and its message becomes more powerful. Black, white, gay, straight, rich, poor, Christian, Muslim, we are all family. To have the opportunity to reimagine it at the request of my friend Cedric Gervais at a point in time when the world needs hope is wonderful, and its purpose is to bring some joy.” – Nile Rodgers
